Picking the Best Rod to Conquer the Surf

Surf fishing is one of the most exciting forms of angling from shore, and for some fishermen, it’s the absolute peak of fishing. There’s something calming and unique about standing directly in the waves you’re casting into. The choice of a rod here is something that can stop a lot of fishermen in their tracks.

Surf rods are pretty specialized, they tend to be longer than poles for virtually any other purpose and a bit on the lighter side. Nine feet is pretty short for a surf pole while in other areas of fishing it would probably be about as big as you want to go.

Don’t be fooled into thinking you need a 12’+ monster pole, though, plenty of experienced surf fishermen find them to be just as unwieldy as they look. How long of a rod you use will depend on a lot on how far you can cast since you want to land your line and lure beyond the breakers. The additional length might be necessary for those whose casting could use some work, though.

The second quality to keep in mind is the power of the pole. You want something with a backbone somewhere in the higher range of medium power. Similarly, you’ll want the action to be rather quick in most cases. The extra bend at the tip will let you get a further cast, increasing your chances of landing things right where you need them to be. Those who use live baits may opt for a little bit of extra stiffness, though.

There’s a truly bewildering variety of rods out there for every use, and surf rods have a huge range to choose from. We’ve taken the liberty of taking a closer look at three of the best offerings currently on the market, saving you valuable time to research. If you’re looking to get into this exciting sort of specialized angling, read on.

Penn Prevail Surf Spinning Rod

Penn is a legendary name for their reels, and their rods are just as good. The Penn Prevail is a fantastic offering, but the slightly higher price point of these amazingly constructed graphite rods makes them more suitable for the person who knows they’re going to be using the rod.

The Prevail series runs from a fairly marginal eight feet at the smallest to twelve feet at the biggest. Most anglers will probably be good with something in the ten-foot range or so, especially to start out. If your casting is weak you might want to go for something a bit longer, you’ll appreciate the ability to get beyond the breakers.

One of the best features on this impressive piece of tackle is that it’s only a two piece rod. While there’s been a lot of advancements made in multi-piece rods over the years, a lot of anglers are still a bit wary of three or four piece poles and limiting the number of pieces makes for a sturdier overall structure.

If you’re serious about getting into the surf and pulling in some fish, you could do a lot worse than the Penn Prevail series of rods. The extra cost is a small price to pay for a rod that might just last your entire surf fishing career.

Okuma Longitude Surf Graphite Rods

Okuma makes some high-quality equipment for very reasonable prices, continuing in that tradition we can present you with the Okuma Longitude series of rods. These durable and sensitive rods come in at a more than fair price tag and are sure to last for a long time to come.

The main unique feature of this rod’s design lies in the extended, cork handle. These elongated handles make it easy to get a grip both in front of and behind the reel seat, making it easy to achieve amazingly far casts without risking losing your grip. There’s also a bit of EVA foam directly in front of and behind the reel seat for an additional level of comfort.

Like the Penn above, these rods come in lengths from eight to twelve feet, so you’re sure to be able to find one to fit your style. The price is amazing for what you get, and most anglers will be glad to know that even the biggest of these rods comes in at under two pounds in weight.

If you’re just getting started and want to find out if you enjoy surf fishing, it might not be a bad idea to invest a few dollars in one of the smaller models. These rods are impressive, and you might be able to get some extra use out of an eight or nine-foot option if you decide that surf fishing isn’t for you in the end.

Daiwa BFSF1202HRB Beefstick Surf Cast Rod

This offering from Daiwa is the best one we’ve found for the amateur who wants a ready-to-go surf pole. It comes in at a respectable twelve feet, so it’s not going to be much use for less specialized types of angling.

That said, you won’t be able to beat this one for the price. The rod blank is constructed of fiberglass so it’s a bit heavier than the graphite options above. Don’t let that turn you off, it’s the primary driving factor that keeps this rod in the low price point it occupies.

The rest of the rod is of amazing construction quality. The guides have ceramic inserts, which will keep the friction down on your line while you’re casting and retrieving. The handle is made of EVA foam, which is easy to keep your grip on even if it gets wet and requires less maintenance than cork.

For the beginner surf fisherman, there’s nothing available for under $50 that will be able to maintain anywhere near the amazing quality of this Daiwa surf rod. If you’re unsure about taking the plunge, pick one of these up and head to the beach. You’ll be a convert before the morning’s over.

Recommendation

The Penn Prevail rods are the stand-outs here. These well-engineered, amazingly priced rods are the best value for the money, but they’re also the most expensive here. If your budget is a bit tighter, the Okuma Longitudinal series is also a quite respectable way to go.

Despite the drawback of being made out of fiberglass, the Daiwa Beefstick is probably the best option here for beginners. As far as rods go it’s amazingly cheap and will let you make a respectable entry to this type of fishing.

Conclusion

We hope we’ve helped you find a rod which gets you started surf fishing. With one of these respectable rods and a decent reel in your hands, you’ll soon find yourself making amazing catches from the shore. It’s some of the most fun you’ll ever have in the water, so why not get started now?

Steven

I am Steven, an experienced fisherman, and outdoor enthusiast. My life-long passion for fishing began when my father taught me how to fish at the age of ten. I started luremefish.com to share my extensive knowledge of all things fishing.

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